Facebook’s Got a Happy Buzz

If the price movement of a stock is proxy for buzz, then investors are expecting Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) to report one hell of a fourth quarter. The world’s largest social network will release its year-end results on January 31, but there’s no patience in today’s fast-paced tech market and — as has always been the case with Facebook — speculation is moving the stock.

Shares have climbed 58.5 percent over the past three-month period and are now trading at over $30 for the first time since July. Investors who bought in at the IPO are just 18 percent shy of breaking even, and those who bought the dip are laughing at the bears. Both parties — and those who own the 55.16 million short positions on the stock — are looking ahead to where the next price ceiling will be.

The stock bumped against $28 for a few weeks before breaking out at the beginning of January on the tail of high sales outlooks for the most recent quarter, and a mystery event to be held on January 15.

The event, which will be held at the company’s headquarters in California on Tuesday morning, has generated the standard flurry of speculation. Facebook’s invitation came loaded with the phrase: “Come and see what we’re building,” and really one can only throw a list of products into a hat and pick one or two out at random…